This fun Deep Sea Blue Candy Ice Cream is the perfect healthy homemade ice cream recipe for kids. This frozen treat is easy to make and low in sugar, free from artificial flavor, and artificial color! It is so delicious your kids will be begging for more!
Imagine the dreamiest shade of blue, swirled with the magic of guilt-free delight. This enchanting treat not only satisfies your sweet tooth but also surprises you with a playful twist: healthy fish-shaped candies that add a pop of color and flavor.
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Jump to:
- Ocean Ice Cream Ingredients:
- How To Make Candy Ice Cream:
- Substitutions:
- Ocean Candy Ice Cream Variations:
- What You Will Need To Make This Kid-Friendly Homemade Ice Cream:
- How To Store Homemade Candy Ice Cream:
- Top Tip:
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Related Vegan Ice Cream Recipes:
- Deep Sea Blue Candy Ice Cream
- More Vegan Treats:
- Reviews
Ocean Ice Cream Ingredients:
This fun candy ice cream is the best ice cream for kids because it's so fun and delicious, yet it's made with simple and clean ingredients you can find at your local grocery store or easily order online.
- Full-Fat Coconut Milk - This is the key to achieving creamy vegan homemade ice cream. It has the texture of heavy cream, yet it contains dietary fiber and is dairy-free. I recommend using one that contains guar gum because it helps to keep the milk from separating.
- Raw Cashews - The other half of the ice cream is made up of raw cashews. I love using a combination of these two because it makes the ultimate thick and creamy ice cream base. Make sure that you are using raw cashews and not roasted cashews. Roasted cashews will not give you the same creamy texture, and they are full of highly processed oils.
- Erythritol - I don't often use erythritol or other zero-calorie sweeteners, but for this recipe, it was perfect! Erythritol is a natural substance extracted from algae that is a sugar substitute. It is very sweet and the perfect substitute for sugar. I used it in this recipe because I wanted the sweetness to be flavorless. Typically, I prefer to sweeten my ice cream recipes with dates or maple syrup; however, for this candy ice cream, I thought those flavors might clash.
- Blue Spirulina - This is the natural blue food coloring for this recipe. I absolutely love using blue spirulina because it is such a vibrant blue and it's full of health benefits. It's perfect for achieving the perfect ocean blue color.
- Pure Strawberry Extract - Since there is no natural flavor to candy ice cream, since many ice cream flavors are made with artificial flavor, I had to get creative with the flavor of this ice cream. I went with pure strawberry extract because it reminds me of cotton candy flavoring. Make sure to use pure strawberry extract and not artificial.
- Vanilla Extract - The second natural flavor I used to create this delicious ice cream is vanilla extract. It adds the perfect depth of flavor and complements the strawberry perfectly.
- Tapioca Syrup (optional) - This ingredient is optional; however, if you make homemade ice cream often, I strongly recommend it. It makes the ice cream consistency smoother and makes the ice cream more scoopable.
- Smart Sweets Sweet Fish - The best ingredient in this recipe is the candy fish. I am absolutely obsessed with all things Smart Sweets. They make naturally sweetened plant-based candies that taste just like the real thing. Nobody will even be able to tell that they're healthy. I love adding their sweet fish to this recipe for the perfect fun topping that kids will love. You can use the code: "THEALLNATURALVEGAN10" for 10% off your order!
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Candy Ice Cream:
Making homemade ice cream may seem a bit intimidating, but I promise it is actually quite easy and totally worth it.
1. Begin by adding the raw cashews to a large bowl and covering them with water. Allow them to soak for at least 4 hours (overnight is best). Make sure that the freezer bowl to your ice cream maker has been frozen for 24 hours as well.
2. Once the cashews have soaked and they are soft and plump, strain them. Add the strained cashews and all remaining ingredients except the sweet fish to a blender. Blend on high until silky smooth. I recommend blending for 1-2 minutes to ensure there are no bits of cashews left.
3. Pour the ice cream base into the ice cream machine and churn for 25-30 minutes (churning time will vary by machine). It will be done when it sticks to the paddle.
4. You can either enjoy the ice cream or scoop it into a loaf pan to freeze for a couple more hours. Whenever you are ready to enjoy it, scoop it into serving dishes, top it with the sweet fish, and enjoy!
Hint: The sweet fish will get super hard if you freeze them, so make sure to put them on right as you are serving this ice cream to preserve the delicious gummy texture.
Substitutions:
There are a handful of easy substitutions that can be made to this recipe if needed. Here are some common substitutions.
- Sweetener - If you're not a fan of zero-calorie sweeteners, you can use 1 cup of soaked medjool dates or ¾ cup of maple syrup.
- Coconut Milk - You can use vegan heavy whipping cream or light coconut milk. Using lite coconut milk is a great way to make this a low-calorie dessert.
- Candy - You can use any type of Smart Sweets candy for this recipe.
Ocean Candy Ice Cream Variations:
There are a handful of ways to mix up this candy ice cream recipe. Here are some of my favorite ways to mix it up.
- Pink and Blue Cotton Candy Ice Cream - You can divide the ice cream base in half and use pink dragon fruit powder to dye half of it pink. Then churn the ice cream bases separately and mix together in the loaf pan to freeze. This will create the perfect cotton candy ice cream recipe.
- Ice Cream Toppings - Feel free to add as many of your favorite ice cream toppings on top to add more texture and flavor.
- Candy Bars - You can omit the blue spirulina and add cacao powder to turn this into a milk chocolate ice cream. You can add a chocolate coating and any of your favorite candy bars. I like making homemade healthy Reese's peanut butter cups and adding those, since making healthy homemade Milky Way bars or Kit Kat bars is quite hard.
What You Will Need To Make This Kid-Friendly Homemade Ice Cream:
Making homemade ice cream can be such a fun and exciting way to get your kiddos in the kitchen. This candy ice cream recipe only requires a couple of pieces of equipment. Equipment can always impact how a recipe turns out, so here's what I recommend using.
- High-Speed Blender - Any blender will work for this recipe. However, I strongly recommend using a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix when making homemade ice cream. They are expensive, but in my opinion, they are worth investing in, especially if you plan to make more dairy-free ice cream recipes. Using a high-speed blender ensures that the ice cream base will come out silky smooth.
- Ice Cream Maker - I recently upgraded my ice cream machine, and I couldn't recommend it enough. It makes ice cream in 25 minutes (compared to my previous one, which would take 40+ minutes). The ice cream comes out smooth and creamy. It works perfectly for making all different types of vegan ice cream recipes, like my Golden Milk Ice Cream and my Vegan Pink Dragon Fruit Ice Cream.
- Ice Cream Containers - Any airtight container will work. If you make homemade vegan ice cream often, I recommend purchasing reusable freezer-safe ice cream pints.
How To Store Homemade Candy Ice Cream:
The way you store homemade ice cream is key to making it last a long time. If you just plan to store this ocean candy ice cream overnight or for a couple of hours, a loaf pan and plastic wrap will work just fine. However, if you are planning to store this ice cream for an extended period of time, I recommend storing it in an airtight container or a reusable ice cream container.
If stored properly, this ice cream recipe will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.
Top Tip:
If your house is on the warmer side, the ice cream can take longer to churn, or it may not churn perfectly. If you keep your house above 75 degrees, it's especially important to make sure the opening of your ice cream maker is covered to keep all the cold in.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Smart Sweets are a great way to reduce your sugar intake and start eating healthier. If you feel like you are addicted to sugar and candy, I can not recommend Smart Sweets enough. They are made with natural plant-based ingredients, so they are the perfect sweet treat for all!
If you are looking to lose weight, erythritol could be for you! It's a great way to enjoy sweets without the added sugar or calories. It is a natural sweetener; however, it is highly processed. Therefore, I recommend eating it in moderation.
Related Vegan Ice Cream Recipes:
Looking for more homemade vegan ice cream recipes to make? Make sure to check out some of the other delicious recipes on my website!
If you try this Deep Sea Blue Candy Ice Cream Recipe, I'd really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Make sure to share it on social media and tag @theallnaturalvegan to be featured! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!
Deep Sea Blue Candy Ice Cream
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- ¾ cup powdered erythritol
- 2 teaspoon pure strawberry extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon blue spirulina
- 1-2 bags Smart Sweets Sweet Fish "THEALLNATURALVEGAN10" for 10% off
Instructions
- Begin by adding the raw cashews to a large bowl and covering them with water. Allow them to soak for at least 4 hours (overnight is best). Make sure that the freezer bowl to your ice cream maker has been frozen for 24 hours as well.
- Once the cashews have soaked and they are soft and plump, strain them. Add the strained cashews and all remaining ingredients except the sweet fish to a blender. Blend on high until silky smooth. I recommend blending for 1-2 minutes to ensure there are no bits of cashews left.
- Pour the ice cream base into the ice cream machine and churn for 25-30 minutes (churning time will vary by machine). It will be done when it sticks to the paddle.
- You can either enjoy the ice cream or scoop it into a loaf pan to freeze for a couple more hours. Whenever you are ready to enjoy it, scoop it into serving dishes top it with the sweet fish, and enjoy!
More Vegan Treats:
Looking for more delicious vegan treats? Make sure to check out some of the other sweets on my website!
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